Shake, Rattle & Roll - starring Suzanne Prentice and OUR kids!

18th July 2008 - Media Release
Kids for Kids, the incredibly successful concept involving children from local schools who gather to put on a concert, led by Suzanne Prentice, is headed for the South Island in September.

Up to 500 children will join the much loved Suzanne Prentice on stage to sing songs from the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and Sister Act, as well as some old favourites including Alexander’s Ragtime Band and the Banana Boat Song. Tunes from The Sound of Music and Footrot Flats.

Six concerts will be staged at Christchurch’s James Hay Theatre, involving 3300 children and 50 schools – one of these concerts will be the 500th performance of Kids for Kids... an incredible achievement! The children learn the songs in their school choir practice times leading up to the concert. Now in its fourteenth year, Kids for Kids shows still regularly sell out.

Tickets on sale on August 5th. Booking and venue details below

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After almost 14 years, World Vision’s Kids for Kids concerts have achieved an amazing feat. Suzanne Prentice, Russell and Annette Johnson, together with musical directors Hadley Ronayne and Brent Holt and hundreds of Kiwi school-kids, will celebrate magical concert number 500 in Christchurch this September 10th 2008. More than 190,000 children all over New Zealand have been involved with Kids for Kids over the years, an incredible and inspiring achievement.,

In 1988, artist Barry McGuire performed a small tour of concerts with children, in conjunction with World Vision. Together with then-CEO Peter McNee and musical director Catherine Buxton, Barry performed the concerts again the next year. Inspired by what he saw, a young, enthusiastic Russell Johnson took the idea to Suzanne Prentice in 1995.
 
“We thought it was worth having a crack at,” says Russell. “Suzanne hadn’t, at that stage, worked with children but was very keen to give it a go.”  So, in the lounge of musical director Carey Bullus, Kids for Kids was born, and soon after the first three concerts were performed in Hamilton.

Now, all these years later, the show is into its sixth version – Shake Rattle and Roll – touring the country, playing to packed-out audiences and making a real difference in the lives of children in need. “A staggering 4,500 children have been sponsored through Kids for Kids concerts over the years, and the hard work is well worth it” says Russell. It’s no easy task co-ordinating hundreds of school choirs and thousands of aspiring young singers up and down the country, but the team’s dedication to using music to inspire, inform, reach out to Kiwi kids and make a difference, is evident.
 
“It’s without a doubt the nicest work I’ve ever done,” says Suzanne.  I encourage any child whether they can sing in perfect pitch or not to become involved with the production to try and get children just to experience the sheer joy of being a star for the night. It really is an amazing thing to see all those faces having a wonderful time and at the same time benefiting underpriveleged children.

“Kids for Kids brings out the best in New Zealanders – parents, teachers, schools, and of course the children. It’s heart-warming to still be doing this after all these years.” This experience is very much the benchmark for fine school choir performance in NZ and is often regarded as something of a Kiwi icon.

Keep an eye out for Kids for Kids as it continues its latest nationwide tour of Shake Rattle and Roll concerts. Check out www.worldvision.org.nz for details.

SUZANNE PRENTICE
Recently I travelled to Hondurus where I filmed some footage around villages and communities being sponsored by New Zealanders. I have travelled to India, Africa and now Central America working with families and trying to make public the plight of some of these kids.

On the average life span of each child for the World Vision child sponsorship programme, the show has raised around 20 million dollars! More than 70.000 New Zealanders are currently sponsoring World Vision children.
Personal bio and pics available

WHERE AND WHEN
Blenheim - 3rd, 4th, 5th September
Marlborough Civic Theatre.
Bookings: Ticket Direct. 0800224224

Christchurch - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th September
James Hay Theatre
Bookings: Ticketek.0800 842538

Ashburton - 18th, 19th  September.
Performing Arts Centre.
Bookings:  iTicket 0508 484 2538

Timaru - 20th, 21st October.
Theatre Royal.
Bookings: Merlins Movie Max 688-4160

Dunedin - 28th, 29th October
Regent Theatre.
Bookings: Ticketek.0800842538

Balclutha - 31st  October
War Memorial Hall.
Bookings:  iTicket 05084842538

Invercargill - 6th, 7th November.
Invercargill Civic Theatre.
Bookings: Ticket Direct 0800224224

Alexandra - 18th, 19th November.
Alexandra Memorial Theatre.
Bookings: iTicket 0508 484 2538

Queenstown - 21st November
City Impact Auditorium.
Bookings:  iTicket 0508 484 2538

Greymouth - 25th, 26th November.
Regent  Theatre.
Bookings: iSite Greymouth 768 5101

Westport - 28th November.
St James Theatre.
iSite Westport
Bookings: 789 6658

Takaka - 5th December
Golden Bay High School Hall.
Bookings: * To be confirmed.

Nelson - 8th, 9th December.
Waimea College Hall.
Bookings: *  To be confirmed

www.worldvision.org.nz